Iran records world's longest nationwide internet shutdown amid ongoing conflict
New Delhi, April 5
Iran's internet blackout, imposed following a joint US-Israel military operation on Tehran, has now entered its fifth week, making it the longest nationwide internet shutdown on record, according to digital monitoring group NetBlocks on Sunday.
In a post on social media platform X, NetBlocks reported that the shutdown has continued for 37 consecutive days, exceeding 864 hours, surpassing all previous comparable incidents in terms of duration and scale.
"Iran's internet blackout is now the longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record in any country, exceeding all other comparable incidents in severity having entered its 37th consecutive day after 864 hours," it said.
The blackout, which began on February 28, has effectively isolated the general public from the global internet while authorities experiment with selective access through a tiered whitelisting system.
NetBlocks highlighted that while other countries have faced intermittent or region-specific shutdowns -- such as Myanmar, Sudan, Kashmir, and Tigray -- none has experienced a full national disconnect for this length of time after previously having standard internet access.
By contrast, countries like North Korea, which have never been connected to the global internet, remain internationally isolated but were never online to begin with.
The blackout coincides with continuous missile and drone strikes by the US and Israel on Iranian targets.
In response, Tehran has launched retaliatory attacks on US and Israeli facilities in neighboring Gulf countries.
Amid the conflict, Iranian authorities have also restricted alternative access methods, including satellite connections and VPNs, leaving citizens with limited or no reliable ways to communicate.
NetBlocks stressed the human cost of the shutdown, noting that families are unable to contact loved ones at a critical time.
Despite these challenges, there are no signs of de-escalation, and the Iranian government has not indicated when full internet access will be restored.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While the situation in Iran is terrible, the article's comparison to Kashmir is misleading and unfortunate. The internet restrictions in J&K were temporary and situation-specific, not a blanket national shutdown during a war. Context matters.
This is what happens when external powers keep interfering in sovereign nations. The US-Israel strikes forced Iran's hand. But cutting off citizens from the world is never the answer. The common people always suffer the most in these geopolitical games.
As someone who works remotely, this is my nightmare scenario. No internet means no work, no income, no way to manage finances or even get news. The economic damage to ordinary Iranians must be catastrophic. Hope peace talks start soon.
The tiered whitelisting system mentioned is scary. It means the government decides who gets information and who doesn't. In today's age, information is oxygen. This sets a dangerous precedent that other authoritarian regimes might follow. India must champion a free and open internet globally.
Makes you think about our dependency on the internet. What would we do if something similar happened here? Maybe we should all learn some old-school communication methods just in case. Also, prayers for the families separated and unable to connect. 🕊️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.